Taylor Family Calendar

For Christmas I endeavored to make a family calendar for Brandon & his parents for Christmas. I probably bit off more than I could chew, but I am VERY happy with how it all turned out. And relieved to be done with it and have it on my refrigerator to enjoy.

I did make one big mistake... and it kind of puts me in the dog house: I said my husband and his twin brother are turning 28 AGAIN this year. Really I think they should just take it as a compliment. :)

Cover:

January-December:

Back Cover:

I really hope it was something they enjoyed. I would love to do it each year, but I am not committing myself to that yet. Because I did this calendar, a photo book for the Linn side of the family, edited four photo shoots, and moved our family to a bigger home in December. And I'm 30 weeks along.

No, right now, I'm committing myself to a break. :)

A Long Time Coming

I've never had a project I've worked on, this consistently take so long to complete. But it was completely worth it.

My first complex quilt!

 

 

With ideas from Pinterest, techniques from Youtube, help from my Relief Society President, and many other resources, I made this quilt for my newest niece, Georgia. They just received it so it's now safe for me to post pictures of the final product. Here's an excerpt from what I wrote in their card:

"It's not perfect. It took longer than I thought it would. And it took on a different design many times. But it has been pieced, pinned, sewn, and stitched with so much love. It served as a reminder to me that life isn't perfect, but love can be."

 

 

 

 (A look at my new favorite technique, Hand Quilting. It is so worth the time, effort, and even the pain of being purposefully poked in the finger... over and over).

Special thanks to my dear husband who endured many evenings of sewing that lasted deep in to the night while the boys slept. And for even helping me press seams when I thought I couldn't press one more. Now maybe I can get to finishing that jean quilt I started for you last October... :)

Mason's gift

One day when taking out the garbage, I found a hopeful surprise sitting on the ground next to the nearest dumpster: a standing toy, just like one I was looking at getting Mason. So I brought it up to the house while the boys were sleeping, and replaced the corroded batteries. And it worked perfectly. I cleaned it and it was just like new, minus one thing:

The story board was completely worn down.

 

So on Christmas eve Mrs. Claus got out some scrapbook paper, scissors, and mod podge and went to work. I'm really happy with how it all turned out!  And it was even better to see how much Mason LOVES this toy!